New York (CNN) - The first joke about Hillary Clinton's future ambitions came less than 20 minutes into a Clinton Foundation event Wednesday.

Even as Bill, Hillary and Chelsea Clinton gathered to present public service awards at their high-profile annual meeting, domestic politics were not always far from the agenda.
Malala Yousafzai, a Pakistani advocate for girls' education who survived being shot by Taliban forces on her way to school, slyly addressed the speculation about Clinton's career plans in her speech.

"Even in America, people are waiting for a woman president," Yousafzai said, to cheers from the audience.

Large monitors in the room quickly found Hillary Clinton in the audience, laughing.

South Sudanese bishop Elias Taban voiced his enthusiasm for Clinton later in the evening, saying he hoped she'd run and win in 2016: "not because we need a woman to lead America but because she is the right person to do so."

But in her own opening remarks the former secretary of state avoided domestic politics, as she has done at events throughout the week at the Clinton Global Initiative annual meeting.

Instead, she proposed that actor Ben Affleck, who introduced her, get working on "Argo II" and give her a role.

"I'm now available," Clinton said.

Another potential 2016 hopeful, Vice President Joe Biden, spoke at the event and had a personal message for Clinton.

"I miss our Tuesday breakfasts," he said.

The pair stoked 2016 speculation one Tuesday this July when Biden invited Clinton to his house for scrambled eggs and multigrain toast.

New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg didn't take sides, speaking highly of both Biden and Clinton when he accepted his Clinton Global Citizen award.

"She has worked for this country as few other people ever have," he said of Clinton.

And he issued an offer to the vice president.

"If the federal government shuts down next week, don't worry," he said. "Come back and we'll put you to work down at City Hall."

soundoff(6 Responses)

Of course she's running. Heck, you folks in the mexia have already elected her.

September 26, 2013 12:57 am at 12:57 am |

Thomas

Who will be her VP ?

September 26, 2013 01:13 am at 1:13 am |

kirk

Hold on to your tightie whities Willard, this is going to be a bumpy ride

September 26, 2013 06:26 am at 6:26 am |

kirk

This is all but over, if she's alive, the gop chances are dead. And for all you benghazi fans, the ones who are holding tight to this would never vote for her anyways. And those who don't like know
, but think she's responsible just may get the real facts, all of them, the gop denied funding with a blunt, routine No. Then when things go bad act like Hillary made the call to the terrorists to start the attack herself, not going far with people who want the real truth.so, you keep screaming benghazi, I'll get some popcorn, and well see where this goes

September 26, 2013 06:36 am at 6:36 am |

bassman

Can't go a day without CNN offering a Hillary Clinton story. Doesn't matter if there is no substance within the story. CNN made a corporate decision to get in involved with the fictional movie "Game Change", and their ratings fall reflect it. CNN made their bed, now must sleep in it. Anderson Cooper, how is that working for you?